Parish History                                                       
The Parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary is a Roman Catholic Congregation established on December 3, 1948 with the appointment of Rev. (later Monsignor) I. Mitchell Cartwright as Pastor. 
The Parish is located along Loch Raven Boulevard on six acres of land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Guidera. When the property was donated, the former convent building (minus the wing that runs east/west) was the only building on the property. It is believed that it had been previously used as a hunting lodge. The "great room" of the lodge was the site of the first celebrations of Mass for the new parish. This room later became the convent chapel and is still used as a chapel for small celebrations. The first floor of this building was renovated in 2002 as a Parish meeting center.
The school opened in 1951 and in 1952 moved into the original eight classroom building that is now the Religious Education/ Kindergarten wing. Over the next 15 years the building was expanded to accommodate the growing parish and school population. The Sisters of Mercy staffed the school at the beginning and were part of the faculty until the retirement of the last sister in 2004.
The original section of the Church (the nave) was built in 1950. It was expanded later with the addition of the two side chapels. Over the years, the Church has undergone several remodeling's, the last being completed in 1999.
The parish has been served by five pastors: Msgr I. Mitchell Cartwright, Rev. (now Msgr.) Arthur W. Bastress, Rev. Joseph L. McManus, Rev. Michael W. Carrion and Rev. Jeffrey S. Dauses.
The Parish has grown to a thriving Catholic Community of about 1500 households, a school enrollment over 300 students, and a religious education program to serve the needs of those children who do not attend the Parish School as well as many other organizations and ministries for people of all ages.

​

Parish Mission Statement
We, the Roman Catholic Community of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who acknowledge God's presence in our lives and God's call to grow in Jesus Christ, commit ourselves to strengthen, promote and extend a community of Justice, Faith, Love and Peace.  We live this mission by being a Eucharist-centered community of diverse groups and individuals proclaiming the Good News.  We are challenged by this Good News to be faithful stewards who minister to one another's needs and to our world.

    St. Thomas More